2018 – CHW
Sophora japonica ‘Sun King’ has a fat crop of flower buds developing. We lost three of these in cold winds by the Playhouse in 2012 but this plant is well protected at the top of the garden.
Reports of a ‘large’ tree blown over near the top lodge prove to be not that exciting. It is only yet another of our 10 to 12 year old specimen ilex oaks which has gone over in today’s filthy gales and rain.
Camellia x williamsii ‘George Blandford’ is now full out in the sun. George’s ashes were scattered underneath the bush 45 or so years ago. Almost a hint of blue in the petals and a different shape to ‘Caerhays’ which is not out yet.
2015 – CHW
Magnolia ‘Betty Jessel’ still has nearly all its leaves on!
Nearby a young Magnolia ‘Caerhays Belle’ which I photographed six weeks ago with what I thought was a secondary flower or two has now lost its buds although old seed pods remain. So it actually tried to come out in December and got its spring show blown and rained away. It looks like frost damage but we have not had any!
How much more bonkers is this season going to get and will we yet pay for it?
2003 – FJW
First frost of winter – not much – [Camellia sasanqua] ‘Winter Intruder’ at its best.
2000 – FJW
Snow started 9.55am – first sizeable fall for some years.
1998 – FJW
R. John Williams killed 5 pheasants and a woodcock at Slyde Park with 4.10
1996 – FJW
A very late year. Dry cold December – gradually increasing frosts. No flowers on Noblissima.
1950 – CW
A lot of snow and frost lately and very little out bar camellias. Flowers of Taliensis brown when opened but buds open well in water.. Fuchsias all gone. Some of the young shoots of Cam sasanqua brown – Taliensis not touched. Camellia saluenensis out in several places.
1947 – CW
Mucronulatum and Nobleanum out also 3 or 4 of the Sutchuenense hybrids, bits of Yellow Hammer and Golden Oriole and Moupinense. Hamamelis only beginning. Camellia Double white been out 2 weeks and the first J.C.W bud (opening) picked today. Oleifera very good still. Bits is Cam sasanqua left. Pink Saluenensis by Tin Garden good and other bits beginning. A few lapagerias. No fuchsias.
1942 – CW
Rho mucronulatum very good. Nobleanum also. Several other small bits and the Rookery Sutchuenense Arboreum out. Hamamelis at its best but Cam oleifera the best thing now. Several of the hybrids good and the Engine House double white out. Some fuchsias and lapagerias out also [?]Ballsing.
1925 – JCW
Hamamelis mollis are very fine indeed, very little else, but there are small bits of rhodo’s out just as usual.
1918 – JCW
Aconite showing. Snowdrop.
1902 – JCW
A great move in the two and three year old daffs during the week.